"... This chapter is concerned with workflow, its systems, its models, its problems and promises. Workflow management systems assist in the specification, modeling, and enactment of structured work processeswithin organizations. These systems are a special type of collaboration technology which we descri ..."

This chapter is concerned with workflow, its systems, its models, its problems and promises. Workflow management systems assist in the specification, modeling, and enactment of structured work processeswithin organizations. These systems are a special type of collaboration technology which we describe as “organizationally aware groupware”. Since the turn of the decade, over 200 new workflow products have been introduced into the world market. This chapter motivates and defines the concepts of workflow. Examples are presented from existing products and prototypes. Finally, we explore some of the current inhibitors and research issues in this fast growing domain.

"... We describe two applications based on a system for office communication that is more flexible and expressive than other systems. This system allows the computerization of tasks that previously required manual intervention because of each task’s complexity. The applications, one automating office tas ..."

We describe two applications based on a system for office communication that is more flexible and expressive than other systems. This system allows the computerization of tasks that previously required manual intervention because of each task’s complexity. The applications, one automating office tasks and the other simulating a bicycle industry, highlight the system’s ability to accommodate changes to the communication language. They also highlight the utility of both the formal language used by the system and the inferential model of communications used to interpret the messages.

... system are quite similar to the proposed system though their methodology is quite different. Woo proposes SACT, a speech act theory based communication system for automation some communication tasks =-=[34]-=-. This system uses a language less expressive than the FLBC though it does use a speech act based framework. Also, he does not allow the meaning of an utterance to differ from its surface representati...

"... Abstract. In this paper, we present a proposal for the articulation of collabora-tive activities based on communication and coordination representation models. Articulation is essential in any kind of collaboration and involves pre-articulation of the tasks, their management, and post-articulation. ..."

Abstract. In this paper, we present a proposal for the articulation of collabora-tive activities based on communication and coordination representation models. Articulation is essential in any kind of collaboration and involves pre-articulation of the tasks, their management, and post-articulation. For the repre-sentation of pre- and post-articulation phases, conversation clichés (communi-cation) are used. For the coordination phase, a model separating the tasks and their interdependencies is used. The articulation schema, which is especially suited to e-business applications, is then applied to a business-web example. 1

...They may indicate asnew responsibility, an obligation, a restriction or a decision, guiding the people’ssactions [8].sThere are other notions of commitment in the computing literature [2], [4], [11],s=-=[27]-=-. Our notion of commitment could be seen as a proper subset of Bond’s [2] concept of commitment. Although we agree on the behavioral aspects of commitment,swe have different views about retracting com...

by
Scott A. Moore
- Department, University of Michigan Business School, 1996

"... This paper discusses a field study that investigates the relationship between a linguistic theory called speech act theory (sat) and automated electronic messages. The results reveal that standards for both electronic data interchange and interapplication communication messages have the structure pr ..."

This paper discusses a field study that investigates the relationship between a linguistic theory called speech act theory (sat) and automated electronic messages. The results reveal that standards for both electronic data interchange and interapplication communication messages have the structure predicted by sat. This provides some evidence supporting computerized systems based on sat. The benefits of such systems are that they would be easier to construct and support than existing systems. 1

...sat be used as the basis for electronic communication systems are also supported (Aurämaki et al. [31], Kimbrough & Moore [32], Lehtinen & Lyytinen [33], Mora et al. [34], Winograd & Flores [35], Woo =-=[36, 37]-=-). This study does not indicate the ultimate correctness or utility of sat. It does indicate that it is feasible to construct electronic messages within this sat framework. It is feasible and also pre...

"... The author proposes a communication framework for applications that is reusable and extensible. An existing recursively defined language is modified so that the message interpretation scheme can determine whether the message is meant to be interpreted literally or not. This makes it possible for the ..."

The author proposes a communication framework for applications that is reusable and extensible. An existing recursively defined language is modified so that the message interpretation scheme can determine whether the message is meant to be interpreted literally or not. This makes it possible for the system to take advantage of its foundations in speech act theory with a minimum of inferential overhead. It is also extended to incorporate discourse management information. The author recommends that discourse be represented in a general planning language such as Petri nets. Actual discourse is allowed to deviate from these plans in unexpected ways so applications get the benefit of automated message management but without

computer-processable messages This paper discusses a small empirical study that inves-tigates the relationship between electronic commerce and a linguistic theory called speech act theory (SAT). The study reveals that electronic data interchange messages and inter-application communication messages have the structurepre-dieted by SAT. This should encourage information systems (IS} researchers to continue investigating SAT, ISpractition-ers to consider basing message structures on a SAT frame-work, and speech act theorists who support this theory. 1

"... Computers are valuable tools for a wide range of work tasks. A substantial limitation on their value, however, is the predominant focus on enhancing the work of individuals. This fails to account for the issues of collaboration that affect almost all work. Research into computer supported cooperativ ..."

Computers are valuable tools for a wide range of work tasks. A substantial limitation on their value, however, is the predominant focus on enhancing the work of individuals. This fails to account for the issues of collaboration that affect almost all work. Research into computer supported cooperative work (CSCW) aims to eliminate this deficiency, but the promise of computer systems for group work has not been met. This thesis presents four design principles that promote the development of successful groupware. The principles identify the particular problems encountered by groupware, and provide guidelines and strategies to avoid, overcome, or minimise their impact. Derived from several sources, the major influence on the principles development is an investigation into the relationship between factors affecting groupware failure. They are stimulated by observations of groupware use, and by design insights arising from the development of two groupware applications and their prototypes: Mona and TELEFREEK. Mona provides conversation-based email management. Several groupware applications allow similar functionality, but the design principles result in Mona using different mechanisms